as in extra
being over what is needed
any excess food from the party will be donated to a shelter for the homeless
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in surplus
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed
a new television season with an excess of sitcoms featuring wisecracking teenagers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excessiveness
a propensity for extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits
the wretched excess that is so often found in the world of show business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to lay off
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of excess
Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
In the new study, yet to be peer-reviewed and published in a journal, resilience refers to a plant’s ability to endure excess light without suffering severe damage, such as leaf lesions.
—New Atlas, 7 Feb. 2026
Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
Foreign observers, Liu argues, tend to portray Chinese people as either the enablers or the victims of their government’s excesses.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 17 July 2023
That suggests existing protections won’t have much force until the state extends its new worker-misclassification law (which cracks down on employers who rely to excess on gig workers) to temporary employees.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 22 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for excess
Adjective
Run the filter screen under hot water for one minute to flush away any remaining dirt and debris and rid of excess vinegar.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
In the new study, yet to be peer-reviewed and published in a journal, resilience refers to a plant’s ability to endure excess light without suffering severe damage, such as leaf lesions.
—New Atlas, 7 Feb. 2026
Noun
And yet, this is what a generation of moviegoers thrilled by the stylistic excess of A24 and Neon movies want from the big-screen experience.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
Foreign observers, Liu argues, tend to portray Chinese people as either the enablers or the victims of their government’s excesses.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
Over the past few months, my wife has begun drinking to excess every evening.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 17 July 2023
That suggests existing protections won’t have much force until the state extends its new worker-misclassification law (which cracks down on employers who rely to excess on gig workers) to temporary employees.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 22 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for excess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excess
Adjective
-
That staunch support takes on extra significance in a hyper-competitive country that often only rewards top winners and punishes those who fall short.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
If Boise State and SDSU both make it, that’s an extra $4 million minimum for the Mountain West.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For one, the education proposal would, in effect, erase the state’s TABOR surplus, or the money collected over the revenue cap.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The bags come in a variety of colors and textures, and were sourced from surplus and sample leathers in Mulberry’s archives.—
Mary Wenthur,
Footwear News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But what Flanagan’s campaign promotions about her board experience omit are the votes to slash budgets, lay off teachers, and close entire schools as the district struggled with declining enrollments, as well as costly scandals and a new headquarters that ballooned in cost to more than $40 million.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Jan. 2026
-
They are forced to take out high-interest loans, drain reserves, lay off staff or cut services, all while continuing to perform work they are contracted to deliver.—
Kristin Brown,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Oceane Michelon passed the leaders on the course and used only one spare shot on the range, ensuring France had a solid lead.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Use the three drawers to hold everything from hair products and brushes to mouthwash and makeup, then store larger items like spare towels or bathroom cleaning products on the spacious shelves.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lawrence was sacked five times but hardly seemed to notice, throwing for 279 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for another.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Frank was sacked on Wednesday and is expected to be replaced on an interim basis by Igor Tudor.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The micro-style, trimmed with frills along the back, quickly found its way onto creator Devon Lee Carlson and rap artist Sexy Redd at Coachella, before subsequently selling out on the brand’s site.—
Amy Francombe,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Where Frederick Wiseman’s attention is analytical and the Maysles brothers’ attention is dramatic, Depardon’s is a tree trunk—blunt, rough, heavy, a raw thing to hew that keeps its rings of history even after shaping and trimming.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The trooper then removed Jackson from the vehicle.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Jailbreaking in this context refers to a process that removes software restrictions placed on a piece of hardware.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The downsizing trend of the 1990s did not actually result in the pool of office jobs shrinking.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Over the years, the property has attracted a range of prominent tenants, including Denver bookseller Tattered Cover, which once occupied two floors before downsizing to the first floor in 2013 and ultimately leaving the building in 2020.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excess. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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